Saturday in Springfield, Missouri: Scale Modeling and Friends

Around 4:45 am Saturday morning (29 April), I left home to drive to Springfield, Missouri for MOSS CON. This is the annual scale modeling show presented by IPMS/Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists. It was the first MOSS CON since 2019, due to the pandemic. 

On the way, I stopped in Eureka to pick up my friend Rick Reinbott, who also wanted to go to MOSS CON. Together, we made the trip to Springfield in about three hours. In fact, we were a bit early to the show site, The Arc of the Ozarks, so I drove us to a convenience store a few blocks away to get some refreshment before arriving at the venue just after 8:30 am, when it opened to the public.

I registered my three models in the contest (having written out the entry forms at home earlier in the week), paid my entry fee, and placed my entries on the contest tables. After doing so, I bought some raffle tickets, said hello to fellow scale modelers there, and browsed among the vendors there.

Five other IPMS/Gateway members--Marion Morris, Dave Roeder, Randy Kleeschulte, Bill Wagner, and Dave Thomas--came down for the show, along with several (including Reinbott) from Mark Twain Model Club and other clubs--mostly from Missouri.

I did win a couple of kits in the raffle, though I traded one of them to Morris for two kits he bought from vendors. I bought a few more kits from the vendors at this show. More kits for my enlarging kit stash.

For lunch, I joined Morris, Wagner, and Thomas at Jose Loco's, a Mexican restaurant near The Arc of the Ozarks. The food and atmosphere were terrific, and it was a nice respite from the show. Not long after returning to the show site, it was time for contest judging I volunteered to help judge in Automotive, since I didn't have any entries there. Fellow Gateway member Bill Wagner and one of the MOSS members joined my crew as we judged entries in six subcategories. It was quite involved with having to determine the three top places in each subcategory, but after about 90 minutes of work, the job was done.

One of Reinbott's daughters came to the show and Rick introduced her to me. She seemed to enjoy coming to this event.

Just after 3:00 pm, the contest results were announced. MOSS CON drew 41 entrants who brought in 221 models--an increase of 68 models over the previous show in 2019. The raffle gave away 120 kits. Each of the six Gateway members present won at least one contest award. That included yours truly, whose A6M2 Zero took Third Place in Aircraft: 1/48 Propeller, All Eras. I was happy to be honored.

After packing my items and saying my goodbyes, Reinbott and I headed for dinner in town. We stopped by the Dillard's store in Battlefield Mall to meet his other daughter, who was working in women's wear there. After spending a few minutes with her, Reinbott and I headed to Applebee's a few short blocks away. There, we met my friend from high school and church, Cathy (Chappell) Fox and her husband, Allan. They live in the Springfield area, and we had not met since their wedding in Mehlville in the mid-1980s. 

The four of us had a wonderful conversation, as Cathy and I brought each other up to date on our lives. The food was delicious, and we had such a wonderful time together.

After dinner, Rick and I got back in my car to go home. There was a stop in Rolla for fuel and to stretch out a bit before returning to the shopping center parking lot in Eureka to drop Rick off before I arrived home around 11:00 pm. I traveled 439 miles (706.5 km) on this trip.

The next morning, I drove to First Watch in St. Ann for brunch with Julie. It had been a while since we met due to our busy schedules, but it was an enjoyable time as always for us. That afternoon, I was at the United STL Sports Complex refereeing under-14 girls' soccer matches. The games went well despite winds that gusted at least 35 mph (56.3 kmh) at times.

Later.

Websites of Entiries Mentioned in this Post:

IPMS/Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists: ** IPMS M.O.S.S. Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists ** (ipmsmoss.com)

The Arc of the Ozarks: The Arc of the Ozarks: Serving People with Disabilities in Missouri

IPMS/Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter (google.com)

Jose Loco's: Jose Locos Restaurant - Best Food | Delivery | Menu | Coupons (restaurantwebx.com)

Dillard's: Dillard's-The Style of Your Life: Official Site of Dillards

Applebee's: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar - Your Local Restaurant (applebees.com)

First Watch: First Watch | Daytime Cafe Serving Breakfast & Brunch Near You

United STL Soccer Academy: United STL Academy FC

Scale Model Contests in St. Louis and Branson

Last Tuesday (15 May), I came straight from work to Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) to help run this month's IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/) meeting. It featured the second Model of the Year contest of this year, with the Special Category of Crazy Eights. That is, the subject has an eight (8) in its name or designation. I built a 1:72 scale model of the German 88mm Flak 18 anti-aircraft gun for this contest. It wasn't much and it didn't get many serious looks in the contest, but at least I earned the two points (one for entering in a category, another for entering in the Special Category). We had a good turnout of models: 28 total, with 18 in Crazy Eights.

Also at the meeting, Rick Keasey gave his demo on painting figure heads. This was delayed from last month, when a family matter kept Keasey from being at the April meeting. It was quite an interesting demo, especially as Keasey has won awards at recent contests for his figures.

Early yesterday morning (19 May)--as in 4 am--I was at Marion Morris' house in Maplewood, soon joined by clubmates Jim Triola and Don Will. The four of us got into Marion's minivan and soon we were off on the road to Branson, Missouri, where IPMS/Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists (http://ipmsmoss.com/) was holding its annual show, MOSS CON. This year's event--held at the Branson Convention Center (http://www.bransoncc.com/)--also served as the IPMS Region 5 Contest. After a breakfast stop in Rolla, we made it to Branson just after 8 am. We waiting at the Convention Center until the show opened at 8:30, where I entered two models--the 1:72 scale 88mm Flak 18 and a 1:72 F4F-4 Wildcat--in the contest. Neither won any awards in the contest, but at least I entered in it and that's the important part.

There were 195 models from 42 entrants in the contest at MOSS CON. IPMS/Gateway sponsored the Junior (Ages 12 to 17) category in the contest.

The four of us had a good time at the show, including hanging out with Mike Bobela of IPMS/West Central Missouri (http://ipmswcmo.webs.com/) and his wife. We ate lunch at Famous Dave's restaurant (https://www.famousdaves.com/) at Branson Landing (http://www.bransonlanding.com/), just a short walk fro the Convention Center. We all enjoyed a great barbecue lunch and wonderful conversation.

I won one kit (a 1:72 scale Ju 88C) in the show's raffle, and bought a few items from the vendors present. Late that afternoon, as the contest awards were presented, we four left the venue to head home. After a stop for fuel and refreshments in Rolla, we made it back to Marion's house early that night. It was a fun trip and I look forward to more such trips in the future.

Later.